Alvina Jean Engstrom, 88, of Leeds, ND passed Sunday, December 1, 2024 at SMP St. Aloisius Long Term Care in Harvey, ND.  Memorial services will be held at the Leeds Lutheran Church in Leeds, ND, at 1:00 PM Sunday, December 8, 2024 with Pastor Sharon Baker officiating. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service at the church.  Burial will be held at the Hurricane Lake Lutheran Cemetery, rural York, ND at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Haaland Estates Activity Department: 1025 3rd Avenue SE Rugby, ND 58368.

Alvina Jean Rambel was born August 30, 1936 in Mountrail County, North Dakota.  She was the 5th out of 7 children born to Ole and Aninda (Mehus) Rambel. She was delivered by a midwife in the small town of Ross, ND and attended country school south of that town.  The family was of Norwegian descent.

When Alvina was 19 years old, she and Galen Chester Engstrom met. Alvina was helping her sister and brother-in-law, Leona and Bud Holter. Bud and Leona lived at the Hong Elevator, near where the Engstroms farmed, so Galen was working nearby.  Alvina and Galen married on April 15, 1956 in Leeds.  They spent most of their days living and farming in Hurricane Lake Township.  Galen and Alvina had 4 sons, David, Gary, Terry and Rodney  (Rodney passed away shortly after birth).  They attended the Hurricane Lake Church, where Alvina was an active member of the Hurricane Lake Ladies Aid and the Hurricane Lake Homemaker's group, while she lived on the farm.  Later, she became a member of the Rugby Sons of Norway and supported that organization for many years.

Alvina and Galen moved into Leeds in 1988.  After Galen's death in 1995, Alvina worked as a home health care provider in Devils Lake & Leeds. In 2008, Alvina met Darrell Johnson and they became a couple. Darrell's family treated Alvina like their own, even after his passing in 2020.

Alvina moved to the Haaland Estates in September of 2020.  Alvina was always a social person and enjoyed having family and friends visit.  She enjoyed riding the bus and going on outings with other residents from the Haaland Estates.

Alvina was 4 foot 11 inches and was spunky and sassy with her own sense of style. Her favorite saying to her boys was, "Dynamite comes in small packages!"

Alvina is survived by her children, David (Mary) Engstrom, Gary Engstrom and Terry (Janelle) Engstrom; grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.  She is preceded in death by her husband, Galen Chester Engstrom; son, Rodney Engstrom; parents, Ole and Aninda Rambel and siblings.